Laura Raye Woodward

Memorial services for Laura Raye Woodward, 81, Dora, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, with Pastor Dale Roberts officiating, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc.,West Plains.

She was born the daughter of the late Joe Long and Della Evans Long, on October 27, 1933 in Peel, Arkansas and died January 9, 2015 in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

She was united in marriage March 9, 1952 to Edward Lee Woodward, who preceded her in death.

She is survived by five children, Eddie Woodward and wife, Josie, Gainesville, Missouri, Cary Woodward and wife, Melanie, Pottersville, Missouri, DeAnn Collins and husband, David, Dora, Missouri, Rocky Woodward and wife, Pam, Dora, Missouri, and Barry Woodward and wife, Michelle, Gainesville, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren, Matt Woodward, Randy Woodward, Heather Woodward Coyle, Katie Riley, Chris Woodward, Dusty Howard, Nicholas Woodward, Zachary Woodward, Donovan Anderson, Autumn Anderson, Amanda Woodward, Jennifer Collins, Joey Collins, and Daniel Collins; many great grandchildren and nieces and nephews; two sisters, O’Dell Weston, state of Oklahoma, and Faye Crozier and husband, Don, Nevada, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Gladys Long, Camdenton, Missouri, and Phyllis Shipley and husband, Tommy, Dora, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three brothers, Dink, Walker, and Joe Bill Long, and one infant sister.

She attended College of the Ozarks where she received her degree in education. She taught school for awhile, but worked at other various jobs, Baxter Lab, Jeffers and Eaton Corporation. She and her husband, Edward, ran a country store at Richville, Missouri. For several years Raye ran a café at Drury, Missouri. She graduated from Gainesville High, Gainesville, Missouri..

Raye enjoyed fishing, camping, looking for arrowheads, and going to yard sales. She loved growing flowers with her daughter. She loved her kids and grandkids more than anything else, and they all knew it. She was a very loving and kind person. She was very funny and loved to tell the old stories of growing up. She was an inspiration to all that knew her.

There will be private burial at a late date. Local arrangements under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains.